Randolph  County,  Indiana

Edwin  S. Jaqua


            Prominently connected with the business and legal history of Randolph county, the career of Edwin S. Jaqua, of Winchester, is eminently worthy of permanent record. Great fortunes have been accumulated by others through various methods, but few lives in this section of Indiana furnish a better example of the wise application of sound business principles and safe conservatism as does his. The story of his success is not long nor does it contain any exciting chapters, but in it lies a valuable secret of the prosperity which it records. His business, public and private life are replete with interest and incentive, no matter how lacking in dramatic incident; the record of an industrious life whose every action has been actuated by a laudable ambition and controlled by proper ideas, consistent with itself and its possibilities in every particular. In fact, it would be hard to find a better example of what may be accomplished by duty fully performed or what obstacles may be surmounted through energy and tact than that afforded by the life history of this progressive man of affairs.
             Mr. Jaqua was born at New Madison, Darke county, Ohio, May 8, 1853. He is a son of Charles and Mary (Putman) Jaqua. The father was born, reared and educated in Darke county, Ohio, studied medicine and was a practicing physician in his earlier life in his native state, but he subsequently removed to Indiana, located in Randolph county and thereupon gave up his profession and established himself as a land surveyor. His death occurred in 1903. The mother of our subject died many Years ago. Judson Jaqua, the paternal grandfather, was one of the pioneer settlers of Darke county, Ohio. He was a native of Connecticut, from which state he removed to Pennsylvania when a boy, making the long journey by wagon and on flat boats on the rivers. He devoted his life to farming, and died in the early nineties at an advanced age. The father and grandfather of our subject were Republicans in politics.
             Edwin S. Jaqua was a child when he removed with his parents from Ohio to Winchester, Indiana, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools, which has been greatly supplemented in later years by profound home study and wide miscellaneous reading and by contact with the business world. He commenced learning telegraphy when a boy of thirteen, and worked at the same for three years, then went to Iowa and secured employment as book-keeper in a bank, which marked the beginning of his successful banking career. This was in the city of Burlington, and he remained in the same position there about five years, then engaged in the mercantile business for about four years in that state. By this time he had a good start in business and he returned to Winchester, Indiana, and began reading law with Thompson & Marsh, the latter an ex-judge, and in the year 1890 he entered into partnership with B. F. Marsh and they continued together until 1910, enjoying a large and lucrative practice and becoming widely known as leading attorneys of Randolph county, figuring conspicuously in the important trials in the local courts. As a result of the death of John W. Clayton, father of Mrs. Jaqua, our subject was obliged to devote the major portion of his time to looking after the property interests of his own and those left by Mr. Clayton, which consisted of about eight hundred acres of farming land and the Farmland State Bank. Mr. Jaqua became vice-president of this institution, which position he still holds; in fact, he had assisted in the organization of the same in 1887. He was a stockholder in this bank from the first and for many years was a director, and has been its attorney since its organization; in fact, its large and ever-increasing success has been due very largely to his wise counsel and able management. Mr. Jaqua also assisted in organizing the Saratoga State Bank, at Saratoga, Randolph county, in 1907, has been its attorney ever since, also a stockholder and director. He and his wife are heavy stockholders in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Winchester. He is also owner of many other valuable properties of different kinds, all of which have been obtained by good management, wise foresight and honest dealings. He is thus deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished alone and in the face of obstacles that would have discouraged many a man of less courage and fortitude. He has a commodious, attractive and modernly appointed brick home in Winchester, which is the frequent gathering place for the many friends of the family. He erected this fine residence in 1907.
             Mr. Jaqua was married in May, 1891, to Lulu B. Clayton, who was born in Randolph county in 1870. She received a good education and is a lady of culture and refinement. She is a daughter of John W. Clayton, mentioned above, whose death occurred in 1910. He was one of the leading citizens and most influential financiers in the county for many years. He was one of the founders of the Farmland State Bank and was its first president, continuing in that position for a period of twenty-one years in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of this sound and popular institution. He resigned from the presidency two years prior to his death on account of the infirmities of old age. He was also a stockholder in other banks. He was one of the substantial men of this section of the state. He accumulated a handsome competency during the Civil war buying and shipping cattle, hogs and sheep. He was the owner of large landed interests. The death of his wife occurred in 1909. Mrs. Jaqua was their only child.
             The union of Edwin S. Jaqua and wife has been blessed by the birth of the following children: John C., born June 9, 1892, was graduated from the Winchester high school in 1911, and is now a student in Cornell University; George W., born February 22, 1896, was graduated from the Winchester high school with the class of 1913; Mary was born in 1903; and Ruth was born November 26, 1911.
             Politically, Mr. Jaqua is a Republican. Personally he is a man whose word is regarded as good as a bond, and he is public spirited obliging, a courteous, high-minded gentleman in all the relations of life, yet plain and unassuming.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson

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